Usc Rolls, Stakes Its Claim To Title

January 02, 2004|By BONNIE DESIMONE Special to the Daily Press

PASADENA, CALIF. — Keary Colbert removed the rose from between his clenched teeth and paused a beat before answering the question.

"We are the national champions," the Southern California senior wide receiver said. "I don't know what else to say about that. We were No. 1 before the game and we won, so we're still No. 1. Nobody can take that away from us."

The college football world may award dual title belts this year, in the manner of warring boxing associations, but Colbert and the Trojans always will see the championship finery as USC property.

USC dominated Michigan in a 28-14 victory before 93,849 at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, holding the Wolverines to a season-low point total, containing stellar running back Chris Perry and keeping quarterback John Navarre under pressure -- and frequently on his backside -- from the very first series.

Trojans sophomore quarterback Matt Leinart was named the game's most valuable player after passing for 327 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught one pass in the end zone on a trick play pulled off with a con man's aplomb.

Colbert, whose stylish play was eclipsed often this season by his fellow receiver, All-American Mike Williams, collected six passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns and established a school record for career receptions with 207.

Another frequently overlooked entity, the Trojans' defense, shattered Michigan's confidence and rhythm early by swarming for nine sacks, three by junior end Kenechi Udeze.

"(Coach) Pete Carroll is a genius -- he brought the heat all day," said defensive tackle Shaun Cody, who blocked Michigan's first-half field-goal attempt. "I don't think they were ready for our defensive speed. We kind of overwhelmed them."

"We just couldn't handle their pressure up front," Carr said. "We gave up too many sacks. That was probably the difference in the game."

Navarre spoke with red and watering eyes after the game.

"They brought a little more pressure than we expected, but you have to be able to handle it," the fifth-year senior said. "We should have been able to adjust.

"We had to play our best game, and we didn't. It just didn't work out the way we planned. ... You never want to lose your last game, but it was a 10-win season, we're Big Ten champions and I'm proud of this team."

"Good. They won the Rose Bowl," he said. "They can be No. 1 as long as we can be national champs."

The victory capped USC's return to prominence after years of mediocrity. The Trojans went 31-29 in the five years before Carroll brought his youthful enthusiasm to one of the nation's traditional powers.

Fired twice in the NFL for being too soft, Carroll's style was a perfect fit in Los Angeles. After losing five of his first seven games, he is 27-4.

Carroll, 52, has combined his aggressive defensive style with offensive coordinator Norm Chow's sophisticated passing game to create a national power.

The game's early pace swung between Michigan's methodical marches downfield and the speed chess of USC. A blur of moving pieces, a quick score and the Trojans would invert the egg timer one more time.

The Wolverines moved the ball for long stretches but mostly wound up nowhere.

With the Wolverines on their 5-yard line late in the first half, a Navarre pass took a freak bounce off the back of receiver Braylon Edwards' left heel and ricocheted into the arms of linebacker Lofa Tatupu.

The son of former Trojans fullback and 14-year pro Mosi Tatupu returned the ball 26 yards to set up USC's second touchdown, a 6-yard catch by stellar freshman running back LenDale White. Tatupu also contributed seven tackles and assisted on five others.

The Trojans put up a third unanswered touchdown on a pass-interference call a little more than a minute into the third quarter as Colbert collected the ball with Michigan cornerback Jeremy LeSueur hanging off his left arm.

The Wolverines finally broke through with 5:49 left in the third quarter when tight end Tim Massaquoi gathered in a 5-yard touchdown pass -- the 72nd of Navarre's career, breaking Elvis Grbac's school record. Perry punched his way into the end zone with a 2-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 85 yards on 23 carries.

Michigan had a late chance after Leinart fumbled on the Wolverines' 10-late in the fourth quarter. But the relentless Trojans ended Navarre's college career with two sacks.

The Trojans last won a share of the title in 1978, when they also beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl to win the coaches' poll, while Alabama took the AP title. USC hasn't won the AP championship since 1972.

Few expected the Trojans to end that streak this season after losing Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer to the NFL.

Leinart, who had never thrown an official pass in college before this season, threw for a touchdown on his first pass, at Auburn. Maybe it was an omen.